Saturday, March 17, 2012
Grandma Dalton!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my mother in law! So glad she's HERE!! She was gonna come up earlier, but I asked her to wait a week so she could come durring spring break. And it has been SO NICE to have her here. And as usual I didn't take many pictures. BUT I did get some when we went to the River Museum!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Such a stud
Brayden in his Sunday outfit
(His pants and a onesie)
(Here he's wearing the whole outfit. All 3 boys have worn it, although Logan BARELY fit into it!)
Love this!
(Here he's wearing the whole outfit. All 3 boys have worn it, although Logan BARELY fit into it!)
Love this!
Birth Story
I have been having a hard time wanting to write this blog post! Could be because I got sick just a few days after I had Brayden or I'm just burnt out from all the catching up I did just before he was born. Either way, I'm finally getting it written down. Sorry Brayden! (Also because of this I don't remember exact times, except for the birth and how long the labor was)
So Wednesday February 15th I had my regular weekly check up. At the end of the appointment Dr. Sheirlie stripped my membranes for me in hopes that I would go into labor. I was a 3 maybe a 4 at the end of my appointment.
Because I had been having contractions since DECEMBER I was surprised to be this far a long. I really thought that I'd go into labor on the 11th. Like since I got pregnant I just thought that was when I'd have my baby. Well the 11th came and went and I was still pregnant. Good thing I have a great Dr and she was willing to help things along. My mom was coming in on that Friday, and was only able to stay for a week. And I KNEW I'd need her help! So my plan was for me to have Brayden Wednesday or Thursday so Brayden would already be here when mom got into town.
Well my appointment was in the late afternoon and I started to have contractions right away (I even mopped all the floors before I went in to help get things started!) but not strong enough to go to the hospital. We had dinner and put the kids to bed and just kinda waited around. We went to bed and then around 1 or 2am I decided they were strong enough and close enough to go in. We called our wonderful friend Allison to come over and stay with the kids for us (She's amazing!). Well when we got there they strapped me in and monitored me. I was in labor, but not as far along as I had hoped. And I was still a 3/4. I was so frustrated! This labor was completely different than the others. I'd been having pre-labor for 2 months and still no baby! Luckily they didn't send me home! I just got to walk the halls of the hospital for a while. And do my best to rest. I think around 5 or 6 am Brayden was down far enough to break the water. Finally! At this point I was exhausted. And emotional. I was trying not to have a panic attack. I still felt like I was coming to grips with the fact that I was pregnant let alone about to have a baby. It wasn't because I didn't want this baby, I did, it just didn't feel real. I think part of me knew it couldn't be real because there was no way I could be so blessed to have 5 beautiful healthy babies in a row. So for that and because I had WAY TO LONG to try to NOT think about what was coming, I started to freak out. Luckily I was able to keep in control and not freak out yet.
I have to give myself some credit. When it comes to the labor part of labor and delivery, I'm awesome. I really am proud of myself and how well I handle it. I didn't think I would be able to before I tried, so I was and am proud of how well I stayed in control and just took one at a time breathing through it. Even this time around which was WAY longer than my normal labors. 14 hours from the time I had my membranes stripped and the contractions stayed consistent until Brayden was born. And I started out at pretty much a 4! Kaitlyn was a 0 and from start to finish was only 11 hours and she had been my longest labor.
Not so hot when it comes to delivery... I kinda lost my cool, just a little.
So this time I was doing great. Staying calm and just breathing through the contractions. I was in the whirlpool until it was time to push. I got out and got in the bed and by here the contractions were just insane. Non stop on top of each other supper dupper strong, time to push. And I pretty much had a panic attack. Refusing to push and begging for meds (which I knew it was way to late for). I feel bad for my doctor. We're friends. I knew her as my friend before I even knew she was a doctor. Between her, the nurse, and Ryan they convinced me to just push. And two pushes later Brayden was born! After such a long wait it was wonderful relief that he came SO quickly. I'm not sure I could have done much more since I was panicking. The first thing I said when I saw my beautiful baby was "That's a baby!" It was still sinking in. I think it still is sometimes. It's hard to believe I have another baby already. I still feel like Evan is a baby sometimes. Which is funny because he is older than both Kaitlyn and Emily were when they got new siblings. This is also the very first time that after I had a baby I said, I'm not doing that again! I'm not saying I'm done for good. I don't know. This is just the first time I've not wanted to even think of another one right after.
Also while I was in the whirlpool I talked to my mom on the phone. I just wanted to talk to her and calm down a little. I was still trying not to freak out. Well we talked until 7:50am. Brayden was born at 8:06 am. I almost hung up on her because that's when the pain went from manageable to holy freaking cow. It was pretty funny though when I called her at about 8:30am she almost didn't believe that he'd been born. She just kept saying but I JUST talked to you! Haha. Welcome to our family Brayden Keith Dalton!! We LOVE YOU!!
So Wednesday February 15th I had my regular weekly check up. At the end of the appointment Dr. Sheirlie stripped my membranes for me in hopes that I would go into labor. I was a 3 maybe a 4 at the end of my appointment.
Because I had been having contractions since DECEMBER I was surprised to be this far a long. I really thought that I'd go into labor on the 11th. Like since I got pregnant I just thought that was when I'd have my baby. Well the 11th came and went and I was still pregnant. Good thing I have a great Dr and she was willing to help things along. My mom was coming in on that Friday, and was only able to stay for a week. And I KNEW I'd need her help! So my plan was for me to have Brayden Wednesday or Thursday so Brayden would already be here when mom got into town.
Well my appointment was in the late afternoon and I started to have contractions right away (I even mopped all the floors before I went in to help get things started!) but not strong enough to go to the hospital. We had dinner and put the kids to bed and just kinda waited around. We went to bed and then around 1 or 2am I decided they were strong enough and close enough to go in. We called our wonderful friend Allison to come over and stay with the kids for us (She's amazing!). Well when we got there they strapped me in and monitored me. I was in labor, but not as far along as I had hoped. And I was still a 3/4. I was so frustrated! This labor was completely different than the others. I'd been having pre-labor for 2 months and still no baby! Luckily they didn't send me home! I just got to walk the halls of the hospital for a while. And do my best to rest. I think around 5 or 6 am Brayden was down far enough to break the water. Finally! At this point I was exhausted. And emotional. I was trying not to have a panic attack. I still felt like I was coming to grips with the fact that I was pregnant let alone about to have a baby. It wasn't because I didn't want this baby, I did, it just didn't feel real. I think part of me knew it couldn't be real because there was no way I could be so blessed to have 5 beautiful healthy babies in a row. So for that and because I had WAY TO LONG to try to NOT think about what was coming, I started to freak out. Luckily I was able to keep in control and not freak out yet.
I have to give myself some credit. When it comes to the labor part of labor and delivery, I'm awesome. I really am proud of myself and how well I handle it. I didn't think I would be able to before I tried, so I was and am proud of how well I stayed in control and just took one at a time breathing through it. Even this time around which was WAY longer than my normal labors. 14 hours from the time I had my membranes stripped and the contractions stayed consistent until Brayden was born. And I started out at pretty much a 4! Kaitlyn was a 0 and from start to finish was only 11 hours and she had been my longest labor.
Not so hot when it comes to delivery... I kinda lost my cool, just a little.
So this time I was doing great. Staying calm and just breathing through the contractions. I was in the whirlpool until it was time to push. I got out and got in the bed and by here the contractions were just insane. Non stop on top of each other supper dupper strong, time to push. And I pretty much had a panic attack. Refusing to push and begging for meds (which I knew it was way to late for). I feel bad for my doctor. We're friends. I knew her as my friend before I even knew she was a doctor. Between her, the nurse, and Ryan they convinced me to just push. And two pushes later Brayden was born! After such a long wait it was wonderful relief that he came SO quickly. I'm not sure I could have done much more since I was panicking. The first thing I said when I saw my beautiful baby was "That's a baby!" It was still sinking in. I think it still is sometimes. It's hard to believe I have another baby already. I still feel like Evan is a baby sometimes. Which is funny because he is older than both Kaitlyn and Emily were when they got new siblings. This is also the very first time that after I had a baby I said, I'm not doing that again! I'm not saying I'm done for good. I don't know. This is just the first time I've not wanted to even think of another one right after.
Also while I was in the whirlpool I talked to my mom on the phone. I just wanted to talk to her and calm down a little. I was still trying not to freak out. Well we talked until 7:50am. Brayden was born at 8:06 am. I almost hung up on her because that's when the pain went from manageable to holy freaking cow. It was pretty funny though when I called her at about 8:30am she almost didn't believe that he'd been born. She just kept saying but I JUST talked to you! Haha. Welcome to our family Brayden Keith Dalton!! We LOVE YOU!!
Friday, March 9, 2012
HALLELUJAH!!!
8lbs 3oz! I was hoping Brayden would be up to 8lbs, but he did even better! Yea!! Now only 5 more oz and he's back up to birth weight!
And Emmy holding Brayden
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Poor baby
Evan's not feeling well, so I've spent most of the day holding two baby boys. Got this sweet shot of Evan and Brayden. I think he knew Evan wasn't feeling well.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Jumpin Janes
So we went to Jumpin Janes today! The kids sooo needed out of the house, so off we went. Little Brayden did SO well. I kept him with me. Right when we got there he needed to nurse, so we sat in a nice comfy chair and Ryan watched the other four (isn't he AWESOME!!) while I nursed. Then when we were done I put Brayden in the wrap and walked around. I needed out of the house just as much as the kiddos! I got a few extra glances when people realized I had a baby in there, haha! So just yesterday I found my wrap. I was so excited, I knew I still had it but wasn't sure where it was. So when I found it I had to try it out right away, but Brayden was still sleeping. So I put Evan in it! He wasn't to thrilled with it.
Don't worry, I remembered the correct way to wrap it and it fit Brayden much better!
Don't worry, I remembered the correct way to wrap it and it fit Brayden much better!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Progress!!!
Thank you to everyone for the support! I was feeling very discoraged when I found out Brayden was still lossing weight. So many people have offered help, advice, and understanding. I'm feeling more optimistic today. So thank you! FB 2/29
:) YEAAAAAAAAAAA!!! So our goal weight for today for Brayden was 7lbs 9oz. He weighs 7lbs 12oz!!! So excited! Gonna keep doing what we've been doing and once he reaches his birth weight I can really relax! Thank you for all your prayers, they're workin! FB 3/2
So after I posted how Brayden was doing on FB I got SO MANY people who left comments, called, and or stopped by. I was truly overwhelmed by the love I felt from friends and family! Having a newborn is such an emotional thing anyway, but then to see how much people truly care really means alot to me. It was a rough couple of days, but I'm SOOO happy to see Brayden improving!!
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